Smart Home Device Calls Cops in for Alleged Domestic Assault

Technology has certainly been advancing the past few years and one of those key examples have been the rise of smart home devices, which can help you with ordinary day-to-day help, finding things, giving information, and now apparently calling in the police to stop possible domestic violence.

On Sunday, July 2 in Tijeras, New Mexico, 15 miles east of Albuquerque, Eduardo Barros was house-sitting at a residence with his girlfriend and their daughter. Bernalillo County Sheriff Department’s spokesperson, Deputy Felicia Romero reported that later on in the night Barros and his girlfriend started arguing and as it went on their altercation became a physical one.

It was said that Barros had wielded a gun, threatening to kill his girlfriend and a smart speaker that was hooked up to the surround sound system in the house heard Barros ask, “Did you call the sheriffs?” and recognized that as a voice command to call 911 services.

The woman and her child were escorted out of the house when the sheriff’s department and deputies arrived on the scene. The mother sustained some injuries and the daughter was unharmed. Barros was taken into custody after a stand-off that lasted hours with a crisis negotiation and SWAT team.

What’s remarkable here is that this technology was used in a way I bet many never thought about and the authorities have said that said device might have indeed helped save a couple of lives.

Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III said in a statement about the situation, “The unexpected use of this new technology to contact emergency services has possibly helped save a life. This amazing technology definitely helped save a mother and her child from a very violent situation.”

I was born a young geeky child down in Texas, but raised in Arkansas. I am an aspiring writer across multiple mediums, particularly film. I adore stories be they film, TV, comics, novels, video games, shorts, whatever fascinates me to read, watch, or play, I'm into that. I also love telling people about stories.